Strange has said that the company was a different incarnation from Transocean Ltd., which owned the Deepwater rig and leased it to BP.

Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham said Strange would have a conflict of interest since the state likely will be in litigation with Transocean and BP over damages from the massive oil spill.

"Strange's ties to Transocean compromise his ability to act as Attorney General and might require him to recuse himself on the biggest legal issue affecting our state to date," Turnham said in the statement. "The last thing Alabama needs is an oil industry lobbyist leading the litigation to recover damages from the industry he previously represented."

But Strange's campaign scoffed at the Republican warning.

"A real lawyer would know there's no conflict, and its a very poor reflection on (Democratic nominee) James Anderson to let the Democratic party operatives make him look so foolish and desperate," Strange's spokeswoman, Jessica Medeiros Garrison, said in a statement.

King said that, while he briefed both candidates for governor on the litigation plans, he did not discuss it with Strange because he believed Strange had a conflict of interest. He has offered to give a briefing to Anderson.